Updated List of Bills The Republicans Have Blocked

Here’s just a short list of some of the bills that Republicans have
blocked, or attempted to block, since Obama became President:

Tax on Companies that ship jobs overseas- A bill
that would have eliminated a tax break that companies get when they ship
jobs overseas. Republicans blocked this, allowing companies to keep the
tax break they receive when they ship jobs to other countries.

Political Ad disclosure bill- Would have required all donors to political campaigns to reveal themselves. Republicans blocked this, not once but twice.

Subpoena Power for the Committee investigating the BP Oil Spill
– Give subpoena power to the independent committee responsible for
investigating BP’s roll in the oil spill. Republicans attempted to block
this.

The Small Business Jobs Act -would give LOCAL,
community banks access to billions of dollars to loan to small
businesses. Republicans blocked this, then attempted to block it a
second time and failed.

The DREAM Act- Gives immigrant youth who were
brought here as children a path to citizenship by earning a college
degree or serving the military for 2 years. Republicans blocked this.

Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”- Would have
repealed the law that forces gay and lesbian services members to lie
about their sexuality and gives the military the right to discharge
soldiers based on their sexuality. Republicans blocked this.

From Crooks and Liars - When John McCain led the filibuster of the
Defense Appropriations Act yesterday, he blocked far more than the DREAM
Act and repeal of DADT. Here are just a few of the other blocked
provisions, courtesy of Mother Jones.

• No permanent military bases in Afghanistan.
• Report identifying hybrid or electric propulsion systems and other
  fuel-saving technologies for incorporation into tactical motor vehicles.
• Protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members
  of the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation.
• Improvements to Department of Defense domestic violence programs.
• Department of Defense recognition of spouses of members of the Armed Forces.
• Department of Defense recognition of children of members of the Armed Forces.
• Enhancements to the Troops-to-Teachers Program.
• Fiscal year 2011 increase in military basic pay.
• Improving aural protection for members of the Armed Forces.
• Comprehensive policy on neurocognitive assessment by the military health care system.
• Authority to make excess nonlethal supplies available for domestic emergency assistance.

And those were just some of the progressive provisions. On the conservative side, there are these, and more:

• Prohibition on the use of funds for the transfer or release of
  individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay,
  Cuba.
• Prohibition on the use of funds to modify or construct facilities in
  the United States to house detainees transferred from United States
  Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
• Prohibition on use of funds to give Miranda warnings to Al Qaeda terrorists.

And here’s the bills that Republicans had blocked when we compiled our first list;

Senator Franken’s Anti-Rape Amendment to the Defense Appropriations Bill
– Makes it so that women raped overseas while working for foreign
contractors have the right to have their case heard in an American court
instead of having their case mediated by the company they work for.
Only Republican men voted against this, but it passed.

Benefits for Homeless Veterans- Would have expanded benefits to homeless veterans and homeless veterans with children. Republicans blocked this.

Affordable Health Care For America Act- Prevents
insurance companies from discriminating against you on the basis of
“pre-existing conditions”. Requires that insurance companies spend 85
cents of every dollar that you pay on your actual health care. Limits
health insurance companies profit margins. Republicans blocked this for
months before it finally passed and have vowed to repeal it if they are
elected.

Health Care for the 9/11 First Responders who got sick from being at Ground Zero-
Would provide billions of dollars in health care to help the 9/11 First
Responders who were at Ground Zero on 9/11 and are now sick because of
it. Republicans blocked this.

The Jobs Bill- Offsets the payroll tax for 1 year
for companies that hire new employees, or people receiving unemployment
insurance. Also gives other tax incentives to companies hiring new
employees. Republicans attempted to block this.

Wall Street Reform- Puts stricter regulations on the
banks, preventing them from becoming “too big to fail”. Curbs reckless
spending practices that caused the banking crisis. Republicans attempted
to block this.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-
Pumped billions of dollars into state and local Governments to prevent
us from sinking into a second Great Depression. Republicans opposed this
but now want to take credit for the parts of it that we know are
successful.

Oil Spill Liability- Raises the liability on what companies can be made to pay to clean up after an oil spill. Republicans blocked this.

Immigration Reform- Republican suggested
comprehensive immigration reform until Obama supported it. Now they’re
rabidly opposed to it and even voted against their own legislation.
Republicans blocked this.

Unemployment extension bill HR-4213-
Would provide additional aid to the millions of Americans still on
unemployment who are just trying to support themselves and their
families. Republicans blocked this bill for 8 weeks before it finally
passed. Republicans blocked this for 8 weeks before it finally passed.

Fair Pay Act of 2009- Also called the Lily Ledbetter
bill. Requires that women receive equal compensation to men for doing
the same work. Republicans attempted to block this.

The next time someone tells you that the Republicans care about the
American people just give them this list of all the bill Republicans
wanted to fail.